Former Arkansas treasurer Martha Shoffner is still in the middle of her journey through the legal system. A federal jury convicted Shoffner on 14 bribery and extortion counts. But the judge said after Tuesday's verdict that he didn't want to start a pre-sentence investigation because Shoffner has yet to be tried on 10 fraud counts for allegedly pocketing campaign cash. A plea deal could avert the need for a trial, but Shoffner balked last year during a hearing where she was to have pleaded guilty to accepting payments from a bond dealer in exchange for giving him state business. Shoffner's lawyers argued that the bond trades themselves were conducted honestly, but the state Securities Department has a complaint pending against the dealer on grounds alleging the state lost money.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. —

Former Arkansas treasurer Martha Shoffner is still in the middle of her journey through the legal system.

A federal jury convicted Shoffner on 14 bribery and extortion counts. But the judge said after Tuesday's verdict that he didn't want to start a pre-sentence investigation because Shoffner has yet to be tried on 10 fraud counts for allegedly pocketing campaign cash.

A plea deal could avert the need for a trial, but Shoffner balked last year during a hearing where she was to have pleaded guilty to accepting payments from a bond dealer in exchange for giving him state business.

Shoffner's lawyers argued that the bond trades themselves were conducted honestly, but the state Securities Department has a complaint pending against the dealer on grounds alleging the state lost money.